Voting-machine.



No. 672,938. Patented Apr. 30, 190i.

- A. C. GORDON.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 25. 1899.1

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet l.

REP BLicaN @EMOCRAT A PRoHiBiTiflN Mnscsmmzous J) a No. 672,938. Patented Apr. 30, 190i.

A. C. GORDON.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 25. 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-8heet 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

m: NOFUHS PETERS co, PNoTaumcawAsmn-afom u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS C. GORDON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL V. PUFFER, OF SAME PLACE.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 672,938, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed September 25, 1899. Serial. No. 731,529. (No model-l T ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGUS C. GORDON, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, have invented certain new andusefullmprovementsinVoting-Machines,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in voting-machines, and has for its object the production ofa mechanism for the desired pu rpose which is particularly simple, rapid, ac-

curate, and efficient; and to this end it consists in the combination, construction, and arrangement of the component parts of a voting-machine, as hereinafter fully described,

and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan View, partly broken away and in section, of my voting-machine, the parts being shown in their position assumed when the voter is about to use the machine. Fig. 2 is aside elevation,partly broken away and in section, of the upper portion of said machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan View, partly broken away and in section, of a portion of my voting-machine, showing two of the openings for the voting members,

0 the closures for said openings, and the means for locking the closures. Fig. 4 is a sectional,

View taken on line i 4, Fig. 1,1ooking in the direction of arrow 1 and showing a written ballot supported from a voting member ar- 5 ranged in operative position. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views similar to Fig. 4, showing the voting member, the closures, and the slide in different positions. Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line '7 7, Fig. 1.

40 My voting-machine consists, essentially, of

a frame A, provided with openings a, passageways a, and guides a closures B for the openings a and passageways ct, voting members 0, means for looking all of the closures B when the predetermined number of voting members is in position, means for-discharging the voting members when in position, counters for recording the number of votes cast, anda receptacle G for receiving the voting members after the operation thereof and holding the same in position for subsequent use.

The frame A is of anydesirable form, size, and construction and is usually composed of a top section a and intermediate and bottom sections, (not illustrated,) the intermediate section being removable from between the top and bottom sections when it is desired to count the ballots and being held in position by a suitable locking device (not illustrated) and the bottom section being also held in position by a suitable locking device (not illustrated) and being provided with an open top and a transparentbase for facilitating counting of the ballots when the intermediate section is removed. The upper wall of the top section a is generally flat and fixed and is provided with the openings a, passage-ways a, and guides a previously mentioned.

The openings o are arranged one in advance of the other in substantially parallel series and are here shown as each elongated or of greater length than width and as each provided with an enlargement 0., Fig. 3, extending from one side thereof at the outer side of the corresponding passage-way a, presently described. 'Said enlargements cdprevent pen.- nies and other disks of substantially the same diameter as the voting members G from feeding to the passage-ways a, since said pennies and disks when'alined with the enlargements a fall downwardly from the openings ct into asuitable receptacle. (Not illustrated.) The passage-ways ct preferably consist of enlargements of the openings ct, arranged at the inner sides of the enlargements of and eXtending from opposite sides of the openings a. The guides o are arranged above the passage-ways a, and contiguous portions of the openings at are formed with open inner ends and lower sides communicating with said passage-ways and openings and are provided with inlet-openings a in their outer ends.

The closures B generally consist of independently-reciprocating plungers movable in guides b, which extend lengthwise of a slide 5 b and connect contiguous sides of the openings a. The slide 1) is reciprocally movable inaguide a ,eXtendinglongitudinallythrough the upper wall of the top section a and the longitudinal sides of the openings a. Said IOO slide supports all of the closures B and is provided with a plurality of substantially circular openings 19 which are alined with the outer ends of the elongated openings Ct when the slide is in its normal position, as seen in Fig. 4c, and are movable into alinement with the passage-ways a, when the slide is in its position assumed during the movement of the voting members through said passageways, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Said closures B are arranged one in advance of the other in substantially parallel planes and are movable in the guides 1) between abutments 11 provided on the slide 1), Fig. 1, in proximity to the end openings of each series of the openings a. The combined length of the portions of any one series of the closures B interposed between the abutments b for said series of closures is somewhat less than the distance between said abutments, and the length of each closure is preferably sufficient to permit one end thereof to close one of the openings and the contiguous portion of the corresponding opening Ct when the opposite end of said closure is engaged with a voting member arranged in the adjacent openings a 11 as seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

The closures B are usually provided with means for preventing the entrance of more than one voting member at a time into the passage-ways a, said means beinghere illustrated as rigid arms b projecting upwardly from the ends of the closures, movable into the portions of the openings a directly beneath the guides a These arms Z) may serve as handpieces for facilitating the movement of the closures B when inserting a voting member between two of said closures.

The voting members 0 preferably consist of substantially spherical bodies, which are arranged by hand between the closures B, project between adjacent ends of said closures into the openings Ct 11 are movable lengthwise of the openings (L into the passageways a, and are formed of less size than the passage-ways a and the openings 17 and of greater width than the outer portions of the openings at, being of sufficient size to engage the walls of said outer portions of the openings a and prevent their passage through said outer portions, as seen in Figs. 4c, 5, and 6. During the movement of one of the voting members between any two of the closures B all of the closures in the series containing said two closures are free to move in the corresponding guide I) in the slide I). Said voting members may be provided with a slot or other suitable means for permitting the attachment thereto of a written ballot c, or, if desired, written ballots of sufficient size may be used instead of the voting members 0.

When one of the voting members is inserted between two closures B of one series of said closures in position for passage through my machine, as seen in Fig. 5, the end edges of all of the closures in the series, including said two closures B, are in close contact, and stop-faces of the end closures of said series are in close proximity to the erases abutments 19 It is therefore impossible to insert another voting member between any two of said series of closures, although before the slide Z) is operated, as presently described, the voter may remove the member 0 should he desire to place the same in a different position.

In the preferable construction of my voting-machine a voter may either cast a single party or blank vote by arranging a voting member by hand between two of the closures in the top series or may cast a split vote by arranging a voting member by hand between any two of the closures in any of the other series. In order that said machine may not be capable of other operation, I provide the same with the means, previously mentioned, for locking all of the closures when the predetermined number of voting members is in position. Said means is here illustrated as consisting of independently-movable levers D D and a connecting-lever D The lever D is loosely mounted on a cylind rical portion of the lever D, as a trunnion d, the lever D is provided with suitable trunnions (Z, journaled in bearings secured to the frame A, and said levers D D diverge upwardly on opposite sides of a line 2 drawn vertically through the axis of the trunnions d, as indicated in Fig. 6, and are preferably moved to their normal positions by suitable means, as weights d. I generally use but one of the levers D, as the same cooperates with the first series of closures, and use one of the levers D for each additional series of the closures B.

The connecting-lever D is pivoted to a suitable support within the frame A and is provided with opposite arms, which are normally engaged with similar sides of the lever D and one of the levers D. Consequently when a voting member is inserted between two of the closures B, said levers D being suitably fixed to each other, one of the levers D D is rocked in one direction by the contiguous closure B and the other of said levers is rocked in the opposite direction for preventing the insertion of a voting member between the corre sponding closures. It will be understood, however, that in case a voting member is inserted between any of the closures which are alined with or correspond to one of the levers D additional voting members may be inserted between any two closures of each series alined with or corresponding to the other levers D. The described means for locking the closures is particularly simple, practical, and effective; but it is obvious that any other suitable means may be used for this purpose, especially when it is desired to permit any different arrangement of the voting members in the operation of my machine.

The means for discharging the voting members when arranged by the voter preferably consists of the slide 1), previously described, and an actuating member E, Fig. l, which moves said slide backwardly and forwardly,

and is connected to a door or other member (not illustrated) moved to and fro by the voter when approaching or leaving the voting-machine or a booth containing the same. Said actuating member is generally reciprocally movable in a guide or guides (not illustrated) and is provided with shoulders e e for engaging opposite'sides of an arm 1), projecting from the slide 1) through a slot a in the frame A. In the operation of said slide and actuating member the voter when approaching the machine moves said door or other member and forces the actuating member E lengthwise for engaging its shoulder e with the arm b and moving the slide into its normal position, as seen in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. He then places the desired voting member in position and when leaving the machine moves the door or other member reversely and forces the member E longitudinally in the opposite direction for engaging its shoulder 2' with the arm I) and reciprocating the slide 1) and the closures supported thereon in the opposite direction, thus moving said voting member lengthwise of the corresponding elongated openings 0. and registering the same with one of the passage-ways a, Fig. 6, through which it falls bygravity to the chutes F and f and the receptacle G, presently described.

The counters for recording the number of votes cast may be of any desirable form, size, and construction, and as said counters form no part of my present invention I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate and describe the same herein. Said counters are actuated by revolnble wheels f, having arms which project into depending chutes F, commu nicating with the passage-ways ct and are movable in the paths of the voting members when feeding from said passage-Ways through the chutes F.

The receptacle G for receiving the voting members after the operation thereof and permitting access thereto for subsequent use is generally arranged within a booth containing the other parts of my voting-machine, and consists of an elongated downwardlyeinclined open chamber having its upper end connected to a substantially horizontal chute 7, arranged beneath the depending chutes F.

The construction and operation of my voting-machine will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and as more or less change may be made in the construction of said machine without departing from the spirit of my invention I do not herein limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the component parts thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings, a movable voting member supported in its movement by Walls of the openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings, a voting member movable lengthwise of the openings and supported in its movement along the openings by the longitudinal walls of said openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings, a movable substantially spherical voting member supported in its movement by walls of the openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings and passageways alternating with the openings, a mov able voting member supported in its movement by walls of the openings and movable through the passage-ways, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings and passage-ways communicating with the openings, a voting member movable lengthwise of the openings and through the passage-Ways,

said voting member being supported in its movement along the openings by the longitudinal walls of said openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings, a movable voting member formed of greater width than said openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings, a voting member movable lengthwise of the openings and formed of greater width than said openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings, a substantially spherical voting member movable lengthwise of the openings and having its diameter greater than the width of the openings, and means for closing anumber of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

llO

9. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings and passage-ways communicating with the openings, a voting member movable lengthwise of the openings and through the passage-ways, said voting member being formed of greater width than the elongated openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings and passage-ways communicating with the openings and formed of greater width than the openings, a voting member movable lengthwise of the openings into the passage-Ways, said voting member being formed of greater width than the elongated openings and of less size than the passageways, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated openings and passage-ways communicating with the openings and formed of less length than the openings, a voting member movable lengthwise of the openings into the passage-ways, said voting member being formed of greater width than the elongated openings and of less size than the passage-Ways, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings,

'substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

12. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings and a guide connecting adjacent sides of two of the openings, a movable voting member supported in its movement by walls of the openings, and a closure reciprocally movable in the guide and having one end arranged across one of said two openings and its other end engaged with the voting member when arranged in the other of said two openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings arranged one in advance of the other, movable closures supported by the frame one in advance of the other in proximity to the openings and having their adjacentends separable, and a voting member movable between the adjacent ends of two of the closures, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

if A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings arranged one in advance of the other, abutments in proximity to the end openings, and guides connecting adjacent sides of said openings, a se ries of closures for the openings movable in the guides one in advance of the other he ceases tween said abutments and having the portions thereof between the abutments formed of less combined length than the distance be tween the abutments, and a voting member movable between the closures into the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and formed of sufficient size to force the end closures into proximity to the abutments and prevent the entrance of a second voting member between any two of said series of closures, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings arranged one in advance of the other, and a number of passage-ways alternating with the openings, a plurality of closures supported by the frame one in advance of the other and movable independently toward and away from each other, and a voting member movable between the adjacent end edges of two of the closures, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through the passage-ways, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings arranged one in advance of the other, and a number of passage-ways alternating with the openings, a slide supported by the frame and formed with openings comm unicating with the former openings and with the passage-ways, closures for said openings supported by the slide one in advance of the other and movable independently toward and away from each other, and a voting member movable between the adjacent ends of two of the closures into the openings,said voting memberbeing supported in its movement by walls of the openings and being movable through the passage-ways, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

17. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a passage-way, a guide leading to the passage-way, a voting member movable through the guide into the passage-way, and means movable in the guide for preventing the entrance of a second voting member into the passage-way, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

18. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a passage-way,a guide arranged outside of the passage-way and communicating therewith, a voting member movable through the guide into the passage-way, and means movable in the guide for preventing the entrance of a second voting member into the passage-way, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings, passage-ways alternating with the openings, and guides arranged outside of the passage ways, said guides being formed with outer walls and communicating at their inner sides with the passage ways, a voting member movable through the guides and passageways and supported in its movement by walls of the openings, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

20. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a passage-way, a guide leading to the passage-Way, a voting member movable through the guide into the passage-way, and a closure for forcing the voting member through the guide into the passage-way, said closure being provided with a substantially rigid arm movable in the guide for preventing the entrance of a second voting member into the passage-way, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a passage-Way,a guide arranged outside of the passageway and having one portion opening thereinto and another portion formed with an inlet-opening, a voting member movable through the guide into the passage-way, and a closure for forcing the voting member through the guide into the passageway, said closure being provided with a substantially rigid arm movable in the guide for preventing the entrance of a second voting member into the passage-way, substantially as and for the purpose described.

22. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of openings, each having an enlargement or passage-way, a voting member for entering the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through their enlargements or passage-ways, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of openings, each having an enlargement extending from one side thereof, and a second enlargement or passage-way extending from both sides thereof in advance of the other enlargement, a voting member for entering the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through the second enlargements or passage-ways, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

24. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of openings arranged one in advance of the other and each having an enlargement or passage-way, abutments in proximity to the end openings, a series of closures for the openings movable between the abutments and having the portions thereof between the abutments formed of less combined length than the distance between the abutments, a voting member movable between the closures into the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through the enlargements or passage-ways and being formed of sufficient size to force the end closures into proximity to the abutments and prevent the entrance of a second voting member between any two of said series of closures, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

25. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of openings, each having an enlargement or passage-way, guides arranged outside of the enlargements or passage-ways and having corresponding portions opening thereinto and other portions formed with inlet-openings, a voting member for entel-ing the openings and guides, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through their enlargements or passage-ways, and means for closinga number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

26. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of openings, arranged one in advance of the other and each having an enlargement or passage-Way, movable closures supported by the frame one in advance of the other in proximity to the openings and having their adjacent ends separable, and a voting member movable between the closures into the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through their enlargements or passage-Ways and being formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

27. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of openings, arranged one in advance of the other and each having an enlargement or passage-way,guides arranged outside of the enlargements or passage-ways and having corresponding portions opening thereinto and other portions formed with inlet-openings, movable closures supported by the frame one in advance of the other in proximity to the openings and having their adjacent ends separable, and a voting member movable between the closures into the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through said guides and the enlargements or passage-ways of the openings, and being formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

28. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings, arranged one in advance of the other and each having an enlargement or passage-way, guides arranged outside of the enlargements or passage-ways and having corresponding portions opening thereinto and other portions formed with inlet-openings, movable closures supported by the frame one in advance of the otherin proximity to the openings and having their adjacent ends separable, said closures being provided with means movable in the guides for preventing the entrance of more than one voting member at a time to a passage-way, and a voting member movable between the elosures into the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through said guides and the enlargements or passage-ways of the openings, and being formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures, substantially as and for the purpose described.

29. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings arranged one in advance of the other and each having an enlargement or passage-way, guides arranged outside of the enlargements or passage-ways and having corresponding portions opening thereinto and other portions formed with inlet-openings, movable closures arranged one in advance of the other in proximity to the openings and having their adjacent ends separable, said closures being provided with means movable in the guides for preventing the entrance of more than one voting member at a time to a passage-way, a slide for supporting the closures, said slide being provided with openings for registering with the passage-ways, and a voting member movable between the closures into the openings, said voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through said guides and the enlargements or passage-ways of the openings, and being formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures, substantially as and for the purpose described.

30. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, the openings of one series being for party voting, and the openings of other series for split voting, movable closures for the openings arranged in series corresponding to said series of openings, and

movable means actuated upon the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for one character of voting, to prevent the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for the other character of voting, substantially as and for the purpose described.

31. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, the openings of one series being for party voting, and the openings of other series for split voting, movable closures for the openings arranged in series corresponding to said series of openings, voting members movable between the closures into the openings, said voting members being supported in their movement by Walls of the openings, and movable means actuated upon the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for one character of voting, to prevent the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for the other character of voting, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

32. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, the openings of one series being for party voting, and the openings of other series for split voting, said frame being also provided with passage-ways alternating with the openings, movable closures for the openings arranged in series corresponding to said series of openings, voting members movable between the closures into the openings, said voting members being supported in their movement by walls of the openin gs and movable through the passage-ways, and movable means actuated upon the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for one character of voting to prevent the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for the other character of voting, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

33. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, the openings of one series being for party voting, and the openin s of other series for split voting, said frame being also provided with passage-ways alternating with the openings, a slide supported by the frame and formed with openings communicating with the former openings and with the passage-ways, movable closures for said openings supported by the slide and movable independently toward and away from each other, voting members movable between the closures into the openings, said voting members being supported in their movement by walls of the openings and movable through the passage-ways, and movable means actuated upon the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for one character of voting to prevent the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for the other character of voting, substantially as and for the purpose described.

34. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, the openings of one series being for party voting, and the openings of other series for split voting, movable closures for the openings arranged in series corresponding to said series of openings, the closures of each series being movable independently toward and away from each other to re ceive the voting members, and movable means actuated by the closures of the openings for one character of voting upon the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for said character of voting, to prevent the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of the openings for the other character of voting, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

35. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a pinrality of series, movable closures arranged in a plurality of series for closing the openings,

a voting member movable between the contiguous ends of two of the closures of one of the series into the corresponding opening and formed of suflicient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures of said series, and means operated upon the entrance of a voting member between two of the closures of said one of the series to prevent the entrance of a voting member between the closures of a second series, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

36. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, and passage-ways alternating with the openings, movable closures arranged in a plurality of series for closing the openings, a voting member movable between the contiguous ends of two of the closures of one of the series into the corresponding opening, said "voting member being supported by walls of the openings and movable through the passage-ways, and being formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures of said series, and means operated by the closures of said one of the series to prevent the entrance of a voting member between the closures of a second series, substantially as and for the purpose described.

37. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, abutments in proximity to the end openings of each series, closures arranged in a plurality of series and movable between the abutments, the portions of the closures of each series between the abutments being formed of less combined length than the distance between the corresponding abutments, a voting member movable between the contiguous ends of two of the closures of one of the series and formed of sufficient size to force the end closures of said series into proximity to the corresponding abutments and to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures of said series, independently-movable levers cooperating with the series of closures, and means connecting the levers for forcing one from its normal position when the other is moved from its norm al position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

38. A voting-machine comprising a frame provided with openings arranged in a plurality of series, movable closures arranged in a plurality of series for closing the openings, a voting member movable between the contiguous ends of two of the closures of one of the series and formed of sufficient size to prevent the entrance of a second voting member between the closures of said series, means for automatically preventing the entrance of a voting member between the closures of a second series, and means connected to each series of the closures for returning the same to their normal position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

39. A voting-machine comprising a frame having a plurality of openings and passageways alternating with the openings, a receptacle communicating with the passage-ways for receiving the voting members after their escape from the passage-ways, said receptacle being open for permitting access to the voting members for reuse by the next voter, a movable voting member supported in its movement by the walls of the openings, said voting member being movable through the passage-ways into the receptacle, and means for closing a number of the openings when the voting member is arranged in one of the openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, this 12th day of August, 1899.

ANGUS O. GORDON. Witnesses:

HAMPDEN HYDE, H. E. CHASE. 

